BLACKSBURG, Va. – A Virginia Tech student is in federal custody following his arrest on assault charges, but the woman who identifies as his legal spouse said the incident was a misunderstanding while he was seeking medical help for severe panic attacks.
Cristian Romo-Bermejo, 22, was arrested by Blacksburg Police on July 9 and charged with two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer and disorderly conduct on hospital grounds, according to a police news release. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials confirmed they took custody of Romo-Bermejo, a Mexican national, from the Montgomery County Jail. He is currently being held at an ICE detention facility in Farmville.
The case has drawn public attention with conflicting accounts. While police responded to a call for alleged alcohol poisoning, Jadyn Yost, who identifies as Romo-Bermejo’s legal spouse, said he was in mental distress and has a pending legal pathway to U.S. citizenship.
Police Version of Events
According to a news release from Capt. Josh Teubert of the Blacksburg Police Department, officers responded to a report of alcohol poisoning just before 3 a.m. on July 9. The release states that Romo-Bermejo was transported by a rescue squad for a medical evaluation.
At the hospital, police allege that Romo-Bermejo “threatened medical staff and physically assaulted police officers.” After he was medically cleared, he was arrested and taken to the Montgomery County Jail.
Family Disputes Official Account
Jadyn Yost offered a different perspective in an email to WFIR News. She said her husband was experiencing a series of panic attacks and was begging a friend to call for an ambulance when 911 was alerted.
“He was seeking help after experiencing panic attacks (hence the disorderly conduct charge),” Yost said. She said it has been “confirmed that he was not behaving rudely or inappropriately towards hospital staff” and that the behavior described by police is “completely out of character for him.”
Yost also said that Romo-Bermejo, who was brought to the United States at age two, has a clear legal route to remain in the country. “He has a clear and lawful pathway to citizenship currently pending,” she said, referencing a completed I-130 marriage-based green card petition. The couple has reportedly requested an expedited review of their application.
Immigration Status and What’s Next
Romo-Bermejo’s arrest by local law enforcement triggered his detention by ICE. An arrest for criminal charges can complicate immigration proceedings, even with a pending application for legal status.
A GoFundMe page mentioned in initial reports was set up to assist with legal fees and support for Romo-Bermejo. Yost has offered to provide character letters in support of her husband.
The future of Romo-Bermejo’s case will likely depend on the outcome of both his criminal charges in Montgomery County and the review of his immigration status by federal authorities.
